Ceiling system suspension clip

ABSTRACT

A U-shaped clip is fastened directly to the ceiling joists. Into the clip member is inserted a simple conventional runner member to which is fastened the ceiling tile. A spring finger structure is utilized to hold the runner member relative to the clip member.

ite- States Patent 1 Ullinger et a1.

[ 1 CEILING SYSTEM SUSPENSION CLIP [75] Inventors: James C. Ollinger,Lancaster; John W. Shenk, Columbia, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Armstrong Cork Company,

Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,036

[52] U.S. Cl 248/317, 52/484 [51] Int. Cl. F161 3/00 [58] Field ofSearch 248/317, 323, 327; 52/484, 483, 485, 665

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,388 8/1966 Bogert52/665 272,658 2/1883 Cordes 52/484 3,046,620 7/1962 Tuorik et a1.52/484 X 3,225,394 12/1965 Tillisch ct a1. 521484 X 1,891,512 12/1932Vcnzic 52/484 X 2,499,278 2/1950 Olsen 52/484 X 3,415,018 12/1968 Sutter52/484 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 250,558 12/1963 Australia52/484 Primary ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss Att0rneyC1iff0rd B. Price [5 7ABSTRACT A U-shaped clip is fastened directly to the ceiling joists.Into the clip member is inserted a simple conventional runner member towhich is fastened the ceiling tile. A spring finger structure isutilized to hold the runner member relative to the clip member.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CEILING SYSTEM SUSPENSION CLIP CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is directed to animprovement in the clip structure set forth in commonly owned co-pendingpatent application Ser. No. 243,270, filed Apr. 12, 1972, in the name ofJames E. Hazeley, and entitled Ceiling System Suspension Clip andRunner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention isdirected to a suspended ceiling system and, more particularly, to a clipand runner structure for a suspended ceiling system. 7

2. Description of the Prior Art U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,046,620 and 3,225,394are both examples of clips which are fastened to a ceiling joist for thepurpose of assisting in the suspension of a ceiling system. The clipsare also fastened to furring strip members into which the ceiling tileare nailed.

U. S. Pat. No. 3,263,388 is directed to a ceiling tile hanger structurewherein a clip element is nailed to the underside ofajoist member. Theclip member contains a serrated jaw structure and the vertical web of arunner member contains a serrated edge. The serrated jaw structure ofthe clip engages the vertical web of the runner to hold the two elementsin position relative to each other. The ceiling runner then carries theceiling tiles.

The above-mentioned co-pending application discloses a spring-clipstructure which is fastened to the joists of an overlying ceilingsystem. A conventional runner structure is used to engage the springclip memher and hold the two members together relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The suspended ceiling system herein is composedof two main components. The first component is a U- shaped clip which isused to fasten the ceiling system to the ceiling joists. The U-shapedclip has small hooks on the legsof the U, and these hooks face inwardlyand grasp the sides of the ceiling joist when the clip is slid on thebottom of the ceiling joist. A slot arrangement is provided in the baseof the U-shaped clip. Spring fingers project into this slot arrangement.The vertical web of a conventional runner structure is inserted into theslot portion of the spring clip by pushing the vertical web of therunner past the spring fingers. The spring fingers then hold thevertical web of the runner structure in position in the slot of theU-shaped clip. By use of the above simple two-part structure, it is veryeasy for the ordinary individual to place a suspended ceiling tilesystem in a home utilizing a conventional runner structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front view of the clipinvention herein;

FIG. II is a bottom view of the clip invention herein; and

FIG. III is a side view of the clip invention herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The suspended ceiling systeminvention herein is basically composed of two major components. Thefirst component is a U-shaped clip 2 which has a bottom section 4 andtwo sides 6. The width of the bottom 4 is approximately equal to that ofthe ceiling joist; that is, approximately I /2inches. The clip 2 is madeof spring steel or a resilient-type material such that the sides 6 onthe upper part of the clip are closer together than are the portions ofthe sides adjacent the bottom 4. Therefore, when the clip is slippedover a ceiling joist, the sides 6 will resiliently press against thesides of the joist. A series of tangs or hooks 8 are stamped in thesides of the clip and are pointed so that they tend to dig into thesides of the ceiling joist. The tangs are pointed in the direction ofthe bottom of the U so that a downward pull on the clip, when it isplaced on the joist, will tend to dig the tangs into the sides of thejoist and provide a better gripping action of the clip on the joist. Thebottom 4 of the clip is actually in two levels. The first level of thebottom 4 includes the portions 10 of the clip structure. Positionedbelow the portions 10, in a lower plane, is portion 11. These portions10 and 11 are connected by connecting walls 12. As best shown in FIG.III, a slot 13 passes through the connecting walls 12. From the portion11 extends spring fingers 14 which project partly into the slotstructure 13. The purpose of this structure will be set forth later on.

The second major part of the ceiling system is the runner structure 16.The runner structure is a conventional runner structure which iscomposed of a vertical web 18 and two side flanges 20 and 22 whichextend outwardly perpendicularly from the vertical web. On the sideflanges 20 and 22 will be supported the ceiling tiles or ceiling panels.

The clip and runner assembly are assembled by inserting the vertical web18 of the runner into the slot 13 of the clip. The vertical web 18 ispushed past the spring fingers 14 which are spaced apart less than thethickness of the vertical web. The spring fingers are inclined slightlyin an upward direction, that is, in the direction in which the verticalweb is pushed as it is inserted into slot 13. An attempt now to pull thevertical web 18 out of the slot 13 will be against the inclined springfingers 14. The more pressure that is applied downwardly on the runnerstructure, the more tendency there is to bind the spring fingers l4tighter into the vertical web 18. There is thus provided a very uniqueway of holding a conventional runner structure in position relative tothe ceiling joist.

By providing a plurality of clip members on a series of adjacent joistsand by sliding the vertical web of a runner structure into the slots 13of the clips 2, there is provided a mounted runner which has flanges 20and 22 which are capable of receiving and supporting ceiling tiles orpanels. By spacing a plurality of the runner structures in parallel rowsadjacent to each other, separated by the width of a ceiling panel ortile, it is possible to install a complete ceiling system fasteneddirectly to the ceiling joists of a room. There is thus provided a verysimple two-part structure for suspending ceiling tiles from the ceilingjoists of a home. This structure is very simple to install and may bereadily installed by the average person.

What is claimed is:

l. A ceiling suspension system comprising a generally U-shaped clip withresilient sides which are normally spaced apart a distance less thanthat of the width of a ceiling joist so that the clip may be slid on thebottom of a ceiling joist and will resiliently engage the sides of theceiling joist, the bottom of the clip is provided with a fixed sizenonyielding slot structure and resilient spring fingers extend into theslot structure, a runner member of conventional design with a generallystraight-sided vertical web is slid into the slot of the clip past thespring finger edges, whereby the spring fingers then prevent removal ofthe vertical web of the runner from the slot structure if force isapplied to remove the runner from the slot in a direction opposite fromthat in which the runner was placed in the slot.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring fingers are inclined intothe slot in a direction relative to that which the vertical web of therunner is pushed to place the vertical web of the runner in the slot.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the legs of the clip structure areprovided with tangs which dig into the sides of the ceiling joist due tothe resilient sides of the clip and the resiliency of the clip and thetangs enable the clip to grasp and resiliently engage the sides of theceiling joist.

4. A ceiling suspension system comprising a generally U-shaped clip withtwo resilient side legs which are normally spaced apart a distance lessthan that of the width of a ceiling joist so that the clip may be slidon the bottom of a ceiling joist and will resiliently engage the sidesof the ceiling joist, said U-shaped clip also having a bottom sectionjoining together the two leg structures, said bottom section of the clipand the lower portion of the legs of the clip being provided with afixed size-nonyielding slot structure, which extends through the bottomof the clip and the bottom of the legs of the clip in the same placewhich contains the legs and bottom section of the clip, resilient springfingers extending into the plane of the slot structure and extendingfrom the bottom section of the U-shaped clip, and a runner member ofconventional design with a generally straight-sided vertical web adaptedto be slid into the slot of the clip past the spring finger ends,whereby the spring fingers then prevent removal of the vertical web ofthe runner from the slot structure if force is applied to remove therunner from the slot in a direction opposite from that in which therunner was placed. in the slot.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the spring fingers are inclined intothe slot in a direction relative to that which the vertical web of therunner is pushed to place the vertical web of the runner in the slot.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the legs of the clip structure areprovided with tangs which dig into the sides of the ceiling joist due tothe resilient sides of the clip and the resiliency of the clip and thetangs enable the clip to grasp and resiliently engage the sides of theceiling joist.

1. A ceiling suspension system comprising a generally U-shaped clip with resilient sides which are normally spaced apart a distance less than that of the width of a ceiling joist so that the clip may be slid on the bottom of a ceiling joist and will resiliently engage the sides of the ceiling joist, the bottom of the clip is provided with a fixed size nonyielding slot structure and resilient spring fingers extend into the slot structure, a runner member of conventional design with a generally straightsided vertical web is slid into the slot of the clip past the spring finger edges, whereby the spring fingers then prevent removal of the vertical web of the runner from the slot structure if force is appliEd to remove the runner from the slot in a direction opposite from that in which the runner was placed in the slot.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring fingers are inclined into the slot in a direction relative to that which the vertical web of the runner is pushed to place the vertical web of the runner in the slot.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the legs of the clip structure are provided with tangs which dig into the sides of the ceiling joist due to the resilient sides of the clip and the resiliency of the clip and the tangs enable the clip to grasp and resiliently engage the sides of the ceiling joist.
 4. A ceiling suspension system comprising a generally U-shaped clip with two resilient side legs which are normally spaced apart a distance less than that of the width of a ceiling joist so that the clip may be slid on the bottom of a ceiling joist and will resiliently engage the sides of the ceiling joist, said U-shaped clip also having a bottom section joining together the two leg structures, said bottom section of the clip and the lower portion of the legs of the clip being provided with a fixed size-nonyielding slot structure, which extends through the bottom of the clip and the bottom of the legs of the clip in the same place which contains the legs and bottom section of the clip, resilient spring fingers extending into the plane of the slot structure and extending from the bottom section of the U-shaped clip, and a runner member of conventional design with a generally straight-sided vertical web adapted to be slid into the slot of the clip past the spring finger ends, whereby the spring fingers then prevent removal of the vertical web of the runner from the slot structure if force is applied to remove the runner from the slot in a direction opposite from that in which the runner was placed in the slot.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the spring fingers are inclined into the slot in a direction relative to that which the vertical web of the runner is pushed to place the vertical web of the runner in the slot.
 6. The system of claim 4 wherein the legs of the clip structure are provided with tangs which dig into the sides of the ceiling joist due to the resilient sides of the clip and the resiliency of the clip and the tangs enable the clip to grasp and resiliently engage the sides of the ceiling joist. 